I must have biffed half of these clues, so working out the parsing now is going to take a bit of doing.
Month: July 2023
Times Quick Cryptic 2450 by Jalna
I needed the full 10 minutes of my target time for this one as I managed to misread the clue at 17ac.
Mephisto 3282 – Yes, that’s what it is!
This was quite easy for a Mephisto, and I solved it in one sitting while hardly cracking my Chambers. There were few really obscure words, at least for the hardened Mephisto solver.
Sunday Times Cryptic No 5069 by David McLean — flipping fabulous
Did this one make me stop and think? Definitely. Yet, once solved, it’s remarkable how simple and straightforward (or at least straight-backward) the cluing is.
Times Cryptic Jumbo 1625 – 15 July 2023. We need to talk about 43d
Hello everybody. It felt like I had to work quite hard at this but I surprised myself by having all but a handful of entries at the hour mark. Two intersecting pairs (8a/10d and 47a/43d) caused me some head-scratching at the close though.
All in all, 71:23 of concentrated concentration but also of concentrated enjoyment. I thought this was full of good stuff and am glad I dedicated a proper sitting to it rather than grazing, as I sometimes do with Jumbos. Thanks setter!
Times Cryptic No 28662 – Saturday, 22 July 2023. Short and sweet.
I was struck by how compact the clues were in this puzzle. It reminded me of the Sunday Cryptics! And, all very gettable.
Times 28667 – now fair Hippo
A gently challenging puzzle – no gimmie, but nothing outrageous.
Times Quick Cryptic 2449 by Mara
Quite a gentle one for a Friday from Mara today, if my time is anything to go by…. but I know from experience that ain’t necessarily so for everyone.
Fortnightly Weekend Quick Cryptic. This time it is my turn to provide the extra weekend entertainment. You can find the crossword, entitled “On Your Head Be It”, here.
Times 28666 More of a beauty than a Beast
I managed this in 21.09, just maintaining the record of getting quicker every day this week. By 5 seconds. This one is distinguished by a collection of immaculate surfaces and, to my eye, no … Read more “Times 28666 More of a beauty than a Beast”
Times Quick Cryptic No 2448 by Hurley
About average difficulty, but I felt like I was helped along by a few bits and pieces still fresh from recent puzzles.